San Diego Air & Space Museum Unveils Amelia Plane to Coincide With Movie Debut - Lockheed Vega

Unveiling Scheduled For Friday, October 23 at 10a.m.

Media opportunities available for the Lockheed Vega unveiling; please call 619.234.8291 x140 or e-mail jpackard@sdasm.org by 5p.m. Wednesday.

San Diego, CA - October 20, 2009 - On Friday, October 23, The San Diego Air & Space Museum will unveil its Lockheed Vega 5B used in the movie Amelia, starring Academy Award-winning actress Hillary Swank.

The plane was created as a prop for the film Amelia and was donated to the Museum by Avalon Pictures. Amelia Earhart flew a Lockheed Vega 5B on many historic occasions including the 1929 first Women's Cross-Country Air Race (also known as the Powder Puff Derby), first female solo flight across the Atlantic, first female solo flight across the United States, and also set several women's speed and distance records. In its heyday the Vega 5B was known as a racing and record-setting aircraft and established a standard for many other transport aircraft.

"The Lockheed Vega is a very significant addition to the San Diego Air & Space Museum," said Jim Kidrick, Museum President. "It allows us to upgrade our Amelia exhibit, showcasing her exceptional flying career and positive impact on women in aviation. Our expert restoration team spent hundreds of hours refinishing the Vega after we received it, to ensure the new exhibit superbly represents the quality of the Museum's other aircraft and artifacts."

Earhart was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. Earhart is perhaps best known for her mysterious disappearance which occurred somewhere near Howland Island in July 1937. The most extensive air and sea search in US Naval history was launched soon after and cost over $4 million. Amelia, her navigator Fred Noonan, and the plane, a Lockheed Electra, have never been found although there are dozens of theories as to what happened. Amelia's accomplishments include the first female to fly across the Atlantic (1928), first female to fly the Atlantic solo (1932), as well as several altitude and speed records. She was the first president of the Ninety-Nines, an organization created in 1929 to aid women pilots. The former tomboy was an advocate of women pursuing their dreams, particularly successful women in predominantly male-orientated fields.

Amelia opens Friday, October 23, 2009. For more information and to watch the trailer, please visit: www.foxsearchlight.com/amelia

The San Diego Air & Space Museum is California's official air and space museum and education center. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and it was the first aero-themed Museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. Currently on display: THE DA VINCI EXPERIENCE, a special exhibition featuring remarkable reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous artwork and interactive replicas of his mechanical devices created more than 500 years ago. Visit www.sandiegoairandspace.org for more information. The Museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101. The Museum and gift store are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with admissions until 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.